Main menu

Tag Archives: look du jour

Post navigation

After a summer of blousy pastels and girly minimalism f/w 2010 sees the return of an altogether more dark, sophisticated (and somewhat austere) elegance – think of Hitchcockian heroines Ingrid Bergman and Kim Novak with an 80’s twist; cool, coiffed and tailored to perfection; polished glamour belying a seamy and often murderous undercurrent…

Emilio Pucci Pre-Fall 2010

Dolce & Gabbana Pre-Fall 2010

Lanvin Pre-Fall 2010Statement is the buzz-word when it comes to prints this season…forget the chintz, the ditz and the itty-bitty florals. It’s time to come over all Dan Dare and temper your beauty with a sizeable dollop of danger…rework the season’s strong austere silhouettes with animal prints a la Emilio Pucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Lanvin (no we are still not over them…and we have Alexander Wang’s s/s wedges to thank – profusely).

I’m in the mood for some pretty, powder-pink, airy-fairy, cute-as-a-button, princess frock frivolity. Give me fantasy, daydreams and a romp through the wilderness with a knight in super sharp Armani paired with Grenson brogues wielding anything but a man bag…sigh. Otherworldly escapism with a side order of whimsy please – and hold the fainting (damsel in distress? Me thinks not).

Back to the outfit – a minxy thigh-skimmer of a hemline, peep-toe neutral wedges and socks and nailing the hot as hell asymmetric trend (look to 3.1 Phillip Lim and RM by Roland Mouret for references) this look couldn’t be more now. Details wise, the chic frayed edging of the under-shorts is VERY Prada’s s/s 2010 distressed graphic silks; deconstruction contrasted to perfection with the Rodarte-esque romance of that diaphanous one-sleeve wonder.

I’ve actually been thinking about festival outfits over the last few days (whilst staring morosely out of the patio windows into what I can only describe as the perfect backdrop to Wuthering Heights – and I thought summer had already sauntered back onto the scene in the guise of a be-hatted orb of hot UV goodness. Wrong. Again). Anyway, back to the point…

Festival garb: Often the most difficult thing to balance is the free-spirit hippy boho floatiness – think billowing kaftans, maxis flowers in the hair… – versus the practical,all the mud in the world has also been invited and will arrive approximately 30 minutes after you do, camping veteran mentality. (Yes, those fluorescent waterproof overalls will keep you dry – and, one would hope for the level of embarrassment incurred, very warm – but they’re not particularly flattering and there will be photographic evidence).

So it’s good to see there is another way…mix your boho head-scarf and (on trend right now!) fringing with this seasons denim for a kind of Little House on the Prairie meets hippy-commune chic frontier fusion effect. Very cool…and a little bit practical too…

It’s not often you come across a look that perfectly embodies the true bohemian aesthetic: subversive irreverence for the bourgeois trend slaving, the flagrant incorporation of a mish-mash of vintage, thrifted pieces all held together with lashings of unabashed cool.

Forget Mischa Barton in a kaftan, if it’s boho you want this is a visual masterclass…the floral knee-length high waist wonder of a granny skirt, battered leather satchel and those classic rose-tinted Ray Bans (yes, I am rather jealous!) all styled to insouciant perfection with tumble-down hair and heaps of anachronistic charm. (Need I say) LOVE this outfit?!!

Photograph/ styling by Heather R. : Lookbook here, or head to her blog (no really, do)

This time paired with the most incredible over-the-knee socks I have ever seen (I’m practically melting into a puddle of radioactive green goo with envy…)

Extra kudos for the underskirting (more petticoat-love here) and the sublimely simple colour coordination (personally, I never seem to have two items of clothing that come even close to being the same shade of red – I feel I may have to take this matter up with my washing machine. Or maybe my eyes).

If you haven’t already, head over to tinytoadstool to check out more of Shan Shan’s work and style (and to get a heads-up on new additions to her etsy shop!)

Essentially an 80’s jumble sale gone right (pick your jaw up off the floor – I told you the Japanese were ahead of the game…or maybe they’ve actually gone beyond the game to a whole new level of kitsch-retro-future fusion fashion)…

LOVE the peach-tinted hair! (I’m actually almost swayed to give that a go…although the spectre of hair-dye disasters past may have something to say about it. Definitely going to be rocking the lace headscarf and face-framing fringe sometime soon though….)

Oh! Just had to show a close-up of this earring – I think statement just about covers it!

OH! Liberty….you never cease to amaze me!!! Loving the Nike hi-tops…if only!!! (cue the pointless sigh of the should’a, would’a, could’a enthusiast). If I had my pick of the Nike Liberty 2011 collection it would have to be the ‘Tatum … Continue reading →

After the scandal came the show (the huge crowd seemingly oblivious to the rumoured boycot) and, while it may have been a swan song of sorts, few in the history of fashion can claim to have been as dramatic. Rebels, … Continue reading →

This truly is the end of an era and just days before the Christian Dior show at Paris Fashion Week (drama anyone!?) …But, this is fashion and the show MUST go on so who’s next for the top spot at … Continue reading →

You’d do well to bring out the marching band this Fall as Moschino embraces masculine militaria – with a curve-ball of a twist of course. Think sharp suited savoir faire and embrace immaculately tailored tailcoats, rip-roaring riding jackets and palazzo … Continue reading →

Natalie Portman speaks out against designer John Galliano and Christian Dior has yet to announce his fate as further evidence comes to light… Follow these links for more on the story & Monday’s video: http://tiny.cc/c8fhe http://tiny.cc/h3x1d Amplify’d from www.vogue.co.uk John … Continue reading →